Production cuts imposed on companies to limit gas consumption could have “disastrous economic effects and often irreversible impact,” BusinessEurope, an organization representing European employers, warned on Wednesday.
“Forced reductions in production … must remain an option of last resort. We must first do everything we can to avoid getting there,” in particular by diversifying energy providers and using “market mechanisms,” he said. Markus Beyrer, CEO of BusinessEurope. , in a statement after the presentation by the European Commission of a plan to reduce gas consumption.
Reduce demand by 15%
Brussels on Wednesday proposed a plan to cut European gas demand by 15% to overcome falling Russian deliveries. To get through the winter without major disasters, the European Commission has prepared an arsenal of measures that allow the Twenty-seven to face a possible break in Russian supplies, which represented 40% of its imports last year. “Russia uses gas as a weapon. In the event of a total interruption, Europe will have to be prepared, ”said the president of the European executive, Ursula von der Leyen.
For manufacturers, the text recalls the existence of alternative solutions (change to biomass or biomethane, electrification of certain machines, etc.) and proposes establishing “auction systems” that offer “compensation” to companies in exchange for a reduction in consumption . Brussels recommends sectors with little room for maneuver to dispense with gas, such as the chemical that uses it as a raw material, to gradually reduce their demand.
Source: BFM TV
